India prohibits Karmapa's US visit

Jul 15, 2010

Category: Urgyen Trinley Dorje

Dharamsala

The 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee has been denied permission by the Indian government to travel to the United States, his aides have told the Indo Asian News Service. The young head of Kagyu tradition of the Tibetan Buddhism was scheduled to leave for the United States on a two week religious tour on the invitation of Karma Triyana Dharamchakra centre in Woodstock in New York. The Karmapa was to attend religious events that began Wednesday.

“We fail to understand that why restrictions were imposed on his movement as the tour was purely a religious one. Moreover, the government has not cited any reason for declining to grant permission,” Gonpo Tsering, an aide of Karmapa was quoted as saying.

This is the second time that the young Lama often touted by the media as a probable successor to the Dalai Lama has been prohibited to visit abroad this year. In April, the Indian government did not grant permission to the Karmapa to visit Europe where he was to give religious teachings from May 27 to July 2.

The young head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism made his maiden and only visit outside India in May 2008 to the United States after the Ministry of External Affairs of the Indian government granted him permission in February 2008. The visit took place between May 15 to June 2, 2008.

Born on June 26, 1985, in Kham region of eastern Tibet, Karmapa is the only Tibetan religious personality who is recognized both by the Dalai Lama and China. China in 2007 introduced a rule that bans Tibetan lamas without China’s approval, a move that analysts say is intended to influence the selection of the next Dalai Lama. China says all reincarnate lamas of Tibet or “living Buddhas” must have government’s approval. The Tibetans don’t agree and say Beijing is now interfering even in the ancient and traditional reincarnation system of the Tibetan Buddhism for its ulterior political motives.